Mother of 12-year-old cheerleader reported online bullying–but her daughter died by suicide just hours later: Report

The mother of a 12-year-old girl who died of an apparent suicide last week expressed concerns about bullying to school officials mere hours before her daughter’s tragic death.

Mallory Grossman died last Wednesday in her Rockaway, New Jersey, home. Though the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the girl’s untimely death, her friends told WNBC that she killed herself after being bullied online.

Copeland Middle School, where the well-liked cheerleader attended, wore light blue in her honor and to call an end to bullying. The 12-year-old’s apparent suicide has led teens and cheerleading squads across the country to signal boost #BlueOutBullying via social media—ironically, he same medium where Grossman was reportedly tormented.

On Thursday, Superintendent Greg McGann released a statement in light of Grossman’s presumed suicide. It read in part:

“It is with deep sadness that I inform you our school community has experienced a tragedy.A middle school student died suddenly on the evening of Wednesday.[…] The death of the student is the subject of an investigation by the appropriate authorities. This is standard protocol, and the district is fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities regarding their investigation.”